ImGonnaLose

I was told that I could start walking as soon as I felt able. At my 2-week post op appointment I was cleared for other exercise.

Me!! I had my surgery about 2 1/2 weeks ago, so I've decided it's time for me to start exercising. I don't have aspirations to marathons, though. Starting tomorrow (later today, actually. I really should go to bed now), I will start walking 3 - 4 evenings a week. Then I'll work up from there. -Marianne

The surgery center was fine. I'm self-pay, so that's where I had to go (more expensive to be at the hospital). It was nice that it was so close to home. I just wish the support group meetings could be in Garland, too! I only met Dr. Nicholson twice before my surgery, as well. I'm curious - do you have to do any pre-op testing? I didn't have any - not even blood work, which I thought was odd. They said it was because of my age and I didn't have anything obvious in my personal medical history. But I have a family history of heart disease and diabetes, so I was surprised they didn't even do blood work. Good luck! -Marianne

It's possible to have restriction without a fill. Sometimes it's temporary (just the swelling post-surgery), and sometimes just the presence of the unfilled band is sufficient (at least for a while). I know I've read other posts where people have said a runny nose is a sign of fullness/satisfaction. I just started the soft-solid stage last night. No restriction for me :-( So it'll have to be will power for me for the next four weeks until I get my first fill.

Here's a link to send a message to Alex: Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - Contact Us I've been having the same problem. I usually right-click on a message and open in a new window. It has been opening the message, but then immediately changes to the home page. But I'm able to hit the Back button in the newly-opened window, and it goes to the message I clicked.

I just saw Dr. Nicholson this afternoon for my 2-week follow-up. So far, so good! I also had surgery in Garland (which was nice, since it was 5 minutes from my house). I'm planning to attend my first support group meeting in Plano next week. -Marianne

I just use it to track my intake. I don't pay attention to the number of calories it says I should have - the number seems way too high.

I was told to wear an abdominal binder for a week post-surgery. I really noticed the difference is pain level when it was not on. I think that if I had not had it, I would have had to use my pain meds. As it was, I took 2-3 doses of my lortab right after surgery, and didn't even need tylenol after that.

The thought of a reduction and lift is going to help keep me motivated during my weight-loss journey. I have always hated my boobs. I was fat during early puberty, so even though I was pretty skinny in high school, they already sagged and pointed south. -Marianne

My surgeon includes unsweetened applesauce, mashed potatoes (thinned w/milk), cream of rice, cream of wheat, pureed-then-strained vegetables (thinned w/veg. juice), and pureed fruits w/o seeds or skins as full liquids. I got the Progresso light southwestern-style vegetable Soup and blended it (it has to be strained, too) - it's very flavorful. And you can add unflavored Protein powder to it for a boost. -Marianne (I am SO looking forward to my soft solid stage, which starts next Friday!)

It got 8.5 stars on imdb ("Holocaust" (1978)). According to the user comment, the series is split among the stories of six to eight people over the course of a decade. It's pretty old - where did you find it? -Marianne

LBT has a good search feature - just enter Pompa, and you'll get several results.

Just a tip - make sure your company does not have a WLS exclusion. I have Aetna, but my employer has an exclusion, so I had to self-pay. -Marianne

I hope mine goes down! I've always had trouble finding shoes. In high school, I wore a 10 1/2 narrow (US size), and now I wear an 11 wide. I would love to get rid of the "wide" -Marianne

I wasn't charged for a one-on-one consult with my surgeon (but I had to have previously attended his seminar). No tests were performed, but his PA took a brief history. -Marianne

Just curious - did they give an explanation for why they did not answer their phones last week?

I tracked my pre-op diet on TheDailyPlate, but haven't tracked anything since my surgery on the 19th. I know I'm not getting the calories/protein I need, so I need to try harder. I plan to re-start my tracking this week. I haven't had much pain, and only twinges in my shoulder from gas. My main problem has been a tightness around my chest (and just below my breasts), which gets worse when I eat. I think I'd be fine if I could just burp!!!!! -Marianne

I have a TX license - we don't have to provide our weight.

My surgery was yesterday. I got the the surgery center around 8:30, and was called back to the pre-op area shortly after 9 am. I went into surgery at 11:00. Apparently I was very hard to wake up once in recovery, though. My mom had to wait about an hour before she could come see me. My blood pressure was too low (mid-to-high 80s for the top number), and my heart rate kept dropping into the 40s. So I had to stay longer than expected. The finally gave me some IV fluids and atropine. About 1/2 - 1 hr later, my blood pressure reached the high 90s and even just a little over 100. My heart rate also increased to high 50s/low 60s. We were finally allowed to go home at 4 pm. I crashed on the couch for a a few hours. So far, I've only taken one dose of the Lortab. They were supposed to give me some in recovery, but they didn't want to risk my stats dropping. I haven't been in much pain though. I took a dose before bed, mainly as a preventative. It's almost 10 am now, and it's still not too bad. It's getting to be a little more than a twinge, so I may take another dose in about an hour. Yesterday, I had Water, 2 oz of grape Isopure, and a few bites of lime Jello. Right now I'm sipping on some chicken stock. My post-op diet consists of 2 wks full liquids and then 4 weeks soft solids. But I've decided to do clears at least through the end of today. I think I feel a little hungry, but it could maybe I'm just a lttle gassy there. Once thing that I didn't expect - the doctor has me wearing a compression binder for a week. Does anyone else have one? -Marianne

I'm planning to use both. In fact, I just took my measurements (just chest, waist, and hips) tonight for my "before." Surgery is at 9:30 tomorrow morning!! -Marianne

Sounds like much more hassle than it's worth: Exposing CashCrate: A Fraudulent Work from Home Company! - Associated Content I found this, as well: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/269563/cashcrate_review_how_i_made_1500_my.html?cat=35 I am assumming the number after the main url you posted is for your referral credit??

I'm going to use my accumulated airline mileage to go to Australia. -Marianne

I'm on day two of my 2-week liquid diet - 5 Slim Fast High Protein Shakes/Bars plus a meal of 5 oz meat and 2 cups vegetables. Yesterday I managed to down one bar and half a shake. This morning I put the other half of the shake in the blender with some ice and a little bit of coffee. It went down easier, but it was still pretty nasty. I also had a bar today. I'm really hungry, but so far the hunger is not overcoming the aversion to the taste of the drinks. So I have not gotten in my required 1200 calories these past two days (I'm eating the "meal" I'm allowed, so I'm having to actually learn to cook for myself!). Slim Fast High Protein has very limited flavors, so I'm also shopping for other shakes that have the same (or at least similar) nutrition. The doctor's menu specifies these shakes, but there's no way I can do only them for 2 weeks. I'm going to try an EAS AdvantEdge in a few minutes. -Marianne

My surgery is scheduled for 6/19/2008, and I have told four people (my best friend, who sent me the info about it in the first place, my mom, and my two sisters), and that is all I had planned to tell. (I realize different people have different views on whether they want to tell people about the surgery) Apparently, I failed to specify to them that it's a private decision that I don't want to be broadcast. My sister had a cook-out tonight, and invited a couple that have been family friends for years. After dinner, the wife turns to me and asks if I'm excited about my upcoming surgery! I was so mad! My mom wasn't in the room, so I confronted her about 10 minutes later and asked who all she had told. She apologized and said no one else - and that the only reason she had told this person was because several months ago (before I had decided to do it or even mentioned the possibility to my mom), the woman had said to my mom that I should think about getting WLS. So I guess my mom decided it was OK to tell her when I did make that decision. I understand that my mom wants someone to talk to about her concerns for me. And this woman is probably the ideal person to talk to - two of her kids were banded (non-adjustable) many years ago. Both were very successful, although her daughter had to have hers removed for some reason (she was losing too much weight). But, still... It's MY surgery, and MY decision who should know. And the kicker - after she told me she had told no one else, I asked her specifically if she had told my brother (who is in town this week), and she said "Yes, but he's your brother." Argh! She's probably told my other brother, as well (and he's very judgmental). So, I told her to not tell anyone else. Thanks for letting me vent! (I tried to call my best friend, but I guess she's already in bed)